Buccaneers cruise into final

Berkeley Prep downs Tampa Prep 5-0 to clinch a spot in the state tournament.

TAMPA -- The suspense didn't last long during the second round of the girls Class A, District 7 tournament. In fact, the outcome was not so much in doubt as the eventual margin of victory for host Berkeley Prep.

In the end, the top-seeded Buccaneers advanced with a 5-0 win against Tampa Prep, equaling their score against the Terrapins earlier in the year.

Freshman midfielder Cally Stolbach netted a hat trick and the combination of Tampa Prep miscues and Berkeley Prep's defense did the rest as the home team cruised to victory.

The win guarantees Berkeley Prep (19-6-2) a regional tournament berth but first sets up Friday's 7 p.m. district title game against Academy of Holy Names, a 3-0 winner against Seminole Presbyterian in the other semifinal.

"This match was very similar to the one we had earlier in the year," said Berkeley Prep coach Ken Roberts. "We were able to get some things done and Cally had a good match."

After Sarah Deal's goal opened the scoring five minutes into the game, Tampa Prep (2-14-5) managed to stay even with the more aggressive Bucs for much of the first half.

But then Stolbach took control. Collecting a crossing pass from Erin Mueller, Stolbach connected on a nice shot with 10:20 left in the first half to score her first goal of the night.

Three minutes later she had another score when her 25-yard goal kick slipped through the hands of Terrapins goalkeeper Tara Stablein.

The second half was more of the same as Stolbach completed her feat after dribbling down the left side of the field and putting a crossing shot past Stablein. Junior midfielder Monica Whyte completed the scoring with her goal at the 78th minute.

Tampa Prep's best chance to get on the board game in the game's final moments when a Tracey Frank penalty kick sailed off the crossbar and none of the three ensuing Terrapin shots could find the back of the goal.

Academy, meanwhile, improved to 11-8-3 and advanced to the title game behind the goals of Kathryn Steffens, Rachel Gilman and Christina Berry.